Today as we continue in our study through the book of Acts, we're considering a story about a riot in Ephesus. It's a story about how the gospel impacts the city and confronts idolatry. The gospel impacts individuals and institutions. It affects families, communities, social orders, organizations, and all of daily life. The message of the good news of the kingdom might incite, violence, anger, and commotions, but that's not how it is advanced. It's advanced through the faithful proclamation of the gospel, the power of the Spirit, and the unity of the church. Tony Merida writes, "This story shows us how we advance the kingdom of Christ. It's not by weapons, force, or violence. Paul preaches the gospel; people get converted; they renounce sin and idolatry; and by the power of the Spirit, the whole social order is impacted. Don't underestimate the power of the gospel. Keep exalting Christ in cities filled with idols."

Acts 19:21-41 is a story that brings comfort to the church as we trust the gospel is sufficient and Jesus will build his church. Michael Goheen writes in his book on Christian Mission Today,

"The church is called to offer the gospel in life, word and deed to a community in bondage to dehumanizing idolatry. The Western church can do this only as a contrast community. What would a contrast community look like in the twenty-first century?... What areas of a contrast community need to be emphasized today? By way of illustration I briefly list nineteen characteristics of a contrast community in Western culture.

It will be a community of:

- self-giving love in a world of self-interest

- wisdom in a world of proliferating knowledge and information technology

- justice in a world of economic injustice

- creational care in a world of ecological destruction

- humility in a world of arrogant self-indulgent and self-centered behavior

- patience in a world of immediate gratification

- compassion in a world numbed by overexposure to violence and tragedy

- joy in a world dominated by a frantic and hedonistic pursuit of pleasure

- thanksgiving in a world of entitlement

- self-control and marital fidelity in world saturated by sex

- truth (in humility and boldness) in world of uncertainty

- living moment by moment in God's presence in a secular world

- generosity in world of consumption

- simplicity (of enough) in a world of excess

- forgiveness in a world of competition, violence, grudge and revenge

- praise in a world of narcissism

- hope in a world of despair and consumer satiation

- edifying communication in a world of destructive words

- commitment in a world of apathy

May we be faithful where God has placed us, for His glory, and walk by faith as the gospel impacts our lives. As we are transformed by God's grace, may we introduce others to Jesus, and watch as the institutions around us changed through the power of the Spirit.